There are only two countries in the world where Rugby Union is the national passion. New Zealand and Wales. Stav might argue Ireland but I suspect rugby loses out to both Hurling and Gaelic football. Sevens and/or League is bigger than Union in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
We South Africans support our Springboks with the same kind of fervour and passion as the Welsh and the Kiwis but it's only really our white population. As a nation, football is our national passion . . . but I don't know why. I have supported Bafana Bafana as passionately as any Zulu, Xhosa or Sotho person but it's been about as rewarding as supporting our Proteas in cricket WCs. We may not claim rugby as our national sport but it's the one and only sport where we deliver. Golf used to be the other sport but not so much these days.
I believe our performances in rugby on the world stage over more than a century make rugby our national sport but that would probably be regarded as racist by the EFF or the ANC.
Wales and New Zealand are the two countries where rugby is the national passion and . . . coincidentally or not . . . they're probably the two countries I'd consider emigrating to if things get worse here . . . or should I say, much worse than our current scenario which is basically circling the drain.
On a side note, I will be visiting Wales for only the second time in my life in 2 weeks time. I'm doing a tour of the UK in June travelling from cousins in London to my aunt in Kent to my sister in Bristol to my aunts and cousins in Wales to cousins in Chester to my wife's aunts, uncles and cousins in Lancaster and Morecambe to my wife's cousin in Edinburgh to my cousin in Aberdeen, then back to Edinburgh for 3 days by ourselves before flying back to Jo'burg. Sorry to Dave, Sharkbok and other posters I'd like to meet or see again, but I'm on a very tight schedule and won't be able to meet up.
If I'm quiet for a while, it's not because I've been bested by Baboon-ou's sound reason or ou Maaik's great intellect . . . it's because I'm on a break.
So looking forward to visiting the Land of my Fathers. My father was a Welshman as were his fathers. I'm going to see the house where my paternal grandmother and great grandparents grew up. I believe that I am in a tiny minority of people who can sing both the South African and the Welsh national anthems , word for word, with the correct pronunciation and in tune. (I sing a lot, usually to myself in the car or with my grandchildren, I sing a lot, just as my Mom did).
I doubt if a single non-South African could say the same and I don't think too many South Africans with Welsh ancestry have taken the trouble to learn any Welsh songs as I have, including Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. I should be the one singing both national anthems any time the Springboks play Wales.
Good luck to the Stormers next weekend. (I don't say that very often!)
